Nationals in town, could be another model for Astros to follow

Not too many days ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates were at Minute Maid Park. Considering that their 29-year rebuilding process is finally showing some positive results, I wrote that perhaps the Astros should follow their model.

Today, the Washington Nationals are coming to Minute Maid for a four-game series and I would suggest that they might be an even better team to emulate, if only because it hasn’t taken as long.

As recently as 2009, Washington was the butt of jokes for something other than politics because two players went onto the field wearing uniforms that identified them as “Natinals.” The uniforms were fixed by the third inning, but the damage to the team’s reputation for ineptitude wasn’t.

Until a two-day period in 2010.

On June 7, 2010, the Nationals used the first pick in the draft on outfielder Bryce Harper.

On the next day, June 8, the Nationals’ starting pitcher was Stephen Strasburg, who had been selected with the first pick in the draft in 2009.

Harper, who made the All-Star team as a 19-year-old this season, and Strasburg, if he remains healthy, look like future superstars.

That brings us to the Astros, who had the No. 1 pick in the draft last year and used it on shortstop Carlos Correa. They again will have the first pick next summer.

It’s too early to tell about Correa. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow believes he has star potential, maybe even superstar potential, but he is “six steps away” from the major leagues. Luhnow says that could take him from three to five seasons to reach Minute Maid.

But if the Astros are as smart as the Nationals, and maybe also lucky because you never know what kind of talent is going to be available at the top in any given year or if you’re going to be able to afford it, that definitely will speed up the rebuilding process.

Of course, it takes more than two players to become a playoff contender. The Nationals stockpiled draft choices to develop their farm system and have, for the most part, traded wisely. Luhnow says that is his plan.

There will unavoidably be mistakes along the way. The Nationals made a trade with Pittsburgh that brought them relief pitcher Sean Burnett, who has a 1.98 ERA in 49 appearances this season, but the Pirates got Joel Hanrahan, an All-Star closer this season.

The Nationals also, in retrospect, gave up too early on Justin Maxwell,who is coming into his own with the Astros.

Astros owner Jim Crane might also be careful what he asks for in looking forward to more high draft choices. Strasburg and Harper are both represented by Scott Boras.